Washington Post- History is like a photograph. Facts are facts, but how we understand them depends on who’s doing the framing. In her new book, “Guest of Honor,” about the famous White House dinner at which President Theodore Roosevelt hosted African American educator Booker T. Washington, Deborah Davis examines race relations in early 20th-century America through the lives of two of the era’s giants. With some success and one stumble, she depicts a brash, independent president and a former slave who became the most powerful black man of his time. Their dinner on Oct. 16, 1901, she argues, helped change the country. READ COMPLETE REVIEW

This book is written by Janet Wong. Review from School Library Journal: Kindergarten-Grade 2-This simply told story explores a child’s fears about cultural differences and fitting in with understanding and affection. A Chinese-American girl helps her parents open their small neighborhood grocery store every day of the year. However, today is the Fourth of July and her parents just don’t understand that customers won’t be ordering chow mein and sweet-and-sour pork on this very American holiday. READ MORE

The American Idol lived up to the hype with a voice that blows everyone away. She is a Grammy Award winning artist. Her life is the fulfillment of the American dream rising from financially humble means to go on to super stardom.

Clarkson was born and reared in Texas. Her mother is Greek and info about the other part of her ethnicity is conflicting. Some sources state she is half Irish while others state that she is half English.

Other than being a multi-cultural melting pot and somewhat rags to riches story there is another reason we are calling her a model American, she use her freedom of speech to silence critic about her weight. She is outspoken about her weight fluctuation. Clarkson basically expresses that she is comfortable who she is no matter what weight she may be. By this she does takes away power from critics of her weight. In fact her strong words have been “Screw them.”

Responding to Andy Cohen on Thursday’s “Watch What Happens Live,” Clarkson said, “It doesn’t really matter what I do. If I’m too fat, then when I’m skinny, I’m too clothed, and if I’m too – you just can never win.”

There are many ways to serve pig’s feet, including: boiled, pickled, jellied, or barbequed. MCCN is presenting you with two ways to pig-out with pig feet. First see the recipe for southern style pig’s feet to satisfy the spicy soul food yearning. It’s a staple in many a southerner or African-American’s New Year’s Day dinner celebration. Secondly, we have an Irish recipe commonly called Crubeens. It’s a braised pig’s feet (trotters) dish generally eaten by our Irish friends right out of the hand. It’s usually consumed after coming from a night at the pub.

Recipe for Southern Style Pig Feet

Ingredients

8 -10 pig’s feet , washed throughly

1 bay leaf

3/4 cup white vinegar

2 onions , chopped

2 bell peppers , chopped

2 celery ribs , chopped

1 tablespoon salt

1/2 tablespoon Accent seasoning (optional)

1 tablespoon black pepper

Preparation

Wash pig’s feet thoroughly in warm water. Place all ingredients in large pot or dutch oven. Add water to cover pigs feet. Boil until tender. Add more water if necessary.

The United States has a rich history of immigrants. With each decade we can continue a culture of people born to immigrant parents. This article takes a back to an Italian American story. What I especially love about it is organic fusion various cultures bring to the table of their hyphenated American experience.- Crystal Johnson, MCCN Editor

The women would prepare every conceivable dish that would depict the tradition of Thanksgiving. Many of them had never fixed a turkey or made gravy for the turkey. Some of the dishes, like mashed potatoes and stuffing, would have Italian seasonings added such as Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese and homemade Italian sausage. You can see my Mom’s Italian Style Turkey Stuffing Recipe.

The meal would start with Antipasto (Italian appetizer), which is a salad mixture of Italian salami, cheeses, ham, artichokes, mushrooms served with a vinaigrette dressing. Because some of the older men in the family missed their Italian meals, the women would even fix a pasta dish with meat sauce and meatballs and then we would start on “the turkey meal”.

In 2003, Martinez sustained severe burns to over 40 percent of his body while serving as a United States Army infantryman in Iraq. Following his recovery, he has traveled around the country speaking about his experiences to corporations, veterans groups, schools, and other organizations.

In North America and Canada, the first Monday in September is Labor Day. The holiday serves as a celebration of workers and commemorates their respective economic and social achievements.

Labor (Labour) Day in Canada has its origins in an 1872 demonstration held by the Toronto Trades Assembly (TTA). Serving as Canada’s first significant campaign for worker’s rights, the demonstration was created to garner the release of 24 leaders of the Toronto Typographical Union (TTU). During this time, trade unions were illegal and the TTU leaders were imprisoned for striking to campaign for a nine-hour working day.

The TTA held large parades and picnics and received a large public following. The parades became so empowering that Canadian Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald repealed “anti-union” laws and in June of 1874 parliament passed the Trade Unions Act. Contemporary Canadian celebrations of Labor Day consist of picnics, fireworks, trips, and parades.